Anthropology Department

Anthropology is a diverse and comprehensive discipline that investigates the biological and cultural life of human beings in all times and in all places. An anthropology degree provides students with an appreciation of other ways of life, different systems of belief and knowledge, and, perhaps most importantly, a better understanding of the world in which they live. The department of anthropology at Saddleback College is committed to teaching each of the four sub-fields of the discipline: cultural anthropology, archaeology, linguistic anthropology, and biological anthropology. The department also has a strong emphasis on the study of contemporary issues, such as ethnic and transnational identity, political conflict and social movements, human rights and indigenous rights, the cross-cultural making and meaning of race and gender, and the anthropological study of science. Saddleback College offers a wide range of anthropology courses taught both traditionally and online.

Full-time Faculty

The Four Sub-Fields of Anthropology

Cultural Anthropology

is the study of contemporary cultures and peoples throughout the world. It seeks to understand the differences and similarities in human behavior, thought and feelings.

Biological Anthropology

concentrates on the evolution, biology, and comparative behvavior of human and non-human primates. It is linked to the other sub-fields by its commitment to the study of evolution and biology within the context of culture and society, as well as in relation to human rights issues.

Archaeology

is the study of human cultures, both past and present, through the analysis of material remains. It uses scientific methods to decipher how people, often with no written history, have lived and worked in the past.

Linguistic Anthropology

examines language in the context of human social and cultural diversity. It seeks to understand language variation and use as a central expresssion of culture.

Program Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of an AA degree in anthropology, students will be able to:

Describe the breadth of anthropology and be able to characterize anthropology’s distinctive theoretical and methodological approaches with respect to other disciplines.

Demonstrate an understanding of the historical development of the discipline and the centrality of the “four-field approach” in American anthropology.

Explain the basic processes of human biological evolution.

Describe modern human biological diversity and articulate an informed position on the question of race.

Define and critically analyze the concepts of culture and cultural relativism.

Demonstrate the ability to think holistically and comparatively in describing human cultural diversity.

Demonstrate an understanding of the processes of social and cultural change through time.

Discuss the politics of inclusion and exclusion both locally and globally.

Articulate an anthropological perspective in relation to contemporary issues and concerns.

Discuss the importance of the scientific method in anthropological research.

Identify the correct methods for the undertaking of ethnographic, linguistic, and/or archaeological fieldwork.

Identify the ethical responsibilities and concerns in the conducting of anthropological research.

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